Steve Harvey sobbed openly when he finally got his face-to-face with Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez … and then she gave him some really good news.

Ariadna and Steve sat down on his talk show — their first meeting since the infamous Miss Universe screw up — and he immediately got emotional. Check out the clip … they talked forgiveness and possible lawsuits. Yes, Ariadna says she came close to taking his mansion.

TMZ broke the story … Harvey scored the interview with Miss Colombia when an NBC producer brokered a blanket deal for “Today,” Telemundo, and Steve’s show.

As for his tears … we’re not saying he wasn’t genuine, but Steve’s an old pro — he knows tears equal ratings.